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Citation
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Judgment date
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| October 2025 |
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Applicants' attempt to nullify trial for alleged torture was dismissed as res judicata and improperly brought against "Uganda".
Human rights enforcement — victim of torture — prior judicial declarations — res judicata — suability of the DPP/"Uganda" in civil enforcement suits — Attorney General as proper party — retrospective application of Human Rights (Enforcement) Act 2019 barred — abuse of court process and multiplicity of suits.
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27 October 2025 |
| August 2025 |
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The accused was acquitted of trafficking and defilement charges due to unreliable identification and unresolved contradictions in evidence.
Criminal law – Aggravated trafficking in children – Defilement – Standard of proof – Single identifying witness – Contradictory testimony – Reasonable doubt – Acquittal due to unreliable identification evidence.
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18 August 2025 |
| July 2025 |
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Court refused bail for an applicant charged with terrorism, citing unresolved risks and failure to meet legal bail prerequisites.
Bail – Anti-Terrorism Act – mandatory bail after 180 days – effect of committal – fixed place of abode – substantial sureties – risk of absconding – gravity of offence – procedural requirements for bail in terrorism cases.
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28 July 2025 |
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14 July 2025 |
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10 July 2025 |
| June 2025 |
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Applications for bail in terrorism and child trafficking cases dismissed for lack of substantial sureties and high flight risk.
Criminal law – bail – considerations for bail – gravity of offences – terrorism and trafficking – substantial sureties – flight risk – public interest.
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30 June 2025 |
Terrorism—confirmation of charges—aggravated robbery—murder—belonging to a terrorist organisation—Rome Statute standard—admission of ADF membership—participation in cross-border attacks—Lhubiriha Secondary School Attack—Queen Elizabeth National Park ambush—tourists—recent possession—command role & training at Domain Camp—motivated by political retaliation—ballistics & forensic reports—confirms charges—amendment of indictment ordered—committed for trial
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30 June 2025 |
Human Rights – Extradition – Rule of Speciality – Torture – Fair Trial – Personal Liberty – Prolonged Detention – Public Parading – Property Rights – Res Judicata – Functus Officio – Non-Retroactivity – ICD Rules – Pre-Trial Orders – Constitutional Reference
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23 June 2025 |
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Conviction in several counts of trafficking, defilement, and operating an unapproved home; acquittals due to insufficient evidence.
Criminal law - Trafficking in children - Unapproved children's home - Sexual exploitation - Burden of proof - Credibility of victim testimony.
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20 June 2025 |
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Bail was refused for an applicant facing terrorism charges due to lack of exceptional circumstances, fixed abode, and substantial sureties.
Criminal procedure – Bail – Anti-Terrorism Act – Exceptional circumstances – Fixed place of abode – Substantial sureties – Public interest – Absence of exceptional grounds justifying release – Gravity of offence.
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2 June 2025 |
| May 2025 |
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Court confirms terrorism charges for trial, finding sufficient evidence of unlawful possession of explosives and intent to influence government.
Criminal procedure – Pre-trial confirmation of charges – Standard of 'substantial grounds to believe' – Terrorism – Unlawful possession of explosives and intent to influence government or intimidate public – Role of electronic and forensic evidence – Group criminal acts via political association.
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22 May 2025 |
| March 2025 |
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Bail was denied as the applicant lacked exceptional circumstances and substantial sureties for serious terrorism and murder charges.
Criminal law – Bail application – Terrorism and murder charges – Exceptional circumstances – Substantial sureties – Public interest and balancing of rights – Refusal of bail.
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24 March 2025 |
Terrorism—murder—public prosecutor assassinated—politically motivated killing—anti-terrorism act—public intimidation—common intention—confession—witchcraft—phone data evidence—identification parade—mobile network clusters—international crimes—confirmation of charges
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24 March 2025 |
Human rights—torture—inhuman and degrading treatment—terrorist financing charges—right to personal liberty—detention in unauthorized facility—delay in producing suspects to court—access to lawyers and next of kin—remedies—compensation
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20 March 2025 |
Terrorism—electricity infrastructure vandalism—terrorist financing—terrorist organization—use of mobile money transfers—substantial grounds—pre-trial confirmation—call data evidence—rebel group recruitment—ICD jurisdiction.
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17 March 2025 |
| January 2025 |
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Court found the applicant was illegally detained over 48 hours but dismissed torture claims due to lack of evidence.
Constitutional law – enforcement of human rights – wrongful detention exceeding statutory period – burden of proof in torture and inhuman treatment claims – proper party to sue in actions against the state – remedies in human rights enforcement.
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21 January 2025 |
| December 2024 |
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Bail—child trafficking—defilement—serious offences—presumption of innocence—right to liberty—flight risk—fixed abode—credible sureties—witness interference—extradition flaws—pre-trial detention—delay—judicial discretion—no need for exceptional grounds—conditional bail granted
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18 December 2024 |
Aggravated trafficking in persons—Prevention of Trafficking in Persons Act—recruitment, transportation, harboring—abuse of power—position of vulnerability—sexual exploitation—public officer—law enforcement—evidential burden—standard of proof—substantial grounds to believe—pre-trial hearing—Rule 6 ICD Rules—DNA evidence—medical corroboration—Rome Statute—international law standards—charge confirmation—procedural fairness.
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18 December 2024 |
Criminal law—reparations—rule 48 of the International Crimes Division Rules—conviction for war crimes and crimes against humanity—material and psychological harm to victims—symbolic and monetary reparations—state obligations—reparations distinct from government development programs—balance between reparations and state capacity to pay—role of victim participation in reparations process.
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16 December 2024 |
| November 2024 |
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12 November 2024 |
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5 November 2024 |
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5 November 2024 |
| September 2024 |
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23 September 2024 |
| August 2024 |
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13 August 2024 |
| May 2024 |
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Pre‑trial confirmation: sufficient evidence established substantial grounds to believe accused committed trafficking, defilement and promoting trafficking.
* Criminal procedure – International Crimes Division jurisdiction – trafficking in persons under Prevention of Trafficking in Persons Act, 2009.
* Pre‑trial confirmation – evidential standard – "substantial grounds to believe" (Rome Statute Article 61).
* Trafficking in children – elements: age, recruitment/transfer/harbouring/receipt, means (deception/abuse of power), purpose of exploitation.
* Aggravated defilement – element: person in authority over child.
* Promoting trafficking – knowingly allowing premises to be used for sexual exploitation.
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13 May 2024 |
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Court confirms treason and terrorism charges against the accused for aiding and abetting the kingdom’s armed campaign.
* International Crimes Division – jurisdiction to try terrorism and related offences under ICD Practice Directions and Anti‑Terrorism Act.
* Confirmation of charges – pre‑trial standard: ‘substantial grounds to believe’ (Rome Statute standard adopted).
* Treason – elements, overt acts and utterances; aiding/abetting and common intention; convening meetings as evidence of participation.
* Misprision of treason – knowledge and failure to report; may be preferred as an alternative count.
* Terrorism – elements include political aim, intent to intimidate, indiscriminate attacks; liability by complicity/abetment; relevance of recovered weapons and command structure.
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7 May 2024 |
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Court confirmed charges, finding substantial grounds that the accused committed aggravated child trafficking and aggravated defilement.
* International Crimes Division – jurisdiction to try human trafficking offences under national law and relevant practice directions
* Pre-trial/confirmation – applicable standard: substantial grounds to believe (Rome Statute Article 61)
* Trafficking in children – elements: victim’s age, recruitment/transport/harbouring, means (irrelevant for children), purpose of exploitation
* Aggravated defilement – elements: sexual act on person under 18 and offender a person in authority (s.129(4)(c))
* Use of documentary evidence and DNA at confirmation stage to satisfy substantial grounds standard
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6 May 2024 |
| April 2024 |
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Application against "Uganda" dismissed: wrong party sued, affidavits incurably defective, and torture allegations unproven.
* Constitutional and human-rights enforcement – Proper defendant in claims against the State – Attorney General is the correct party; suing "Uganda" is defective. * Evidence – Affidavits and affirmations – statutory form of affirmation required; unsworn/incorrectly affirmed statements are incurably defective. * Human Rights (Enforcement) Act s.6(5) – does not save suits where defects are substantive rather than mere technicalities. * Torture allegations – burden on applicant to prove violation on balance of probabilities; corroboration ordinarily required.
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23 April 2024 |
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23 April 2024 |
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Whether disclosed documentary and summary evidence establishes substantial grounds to believe the accused committed terrorism, murder and related offences.
* International Crimes Division – jurisdiction to try offences under the Anti‑Terrorism Act and related Penal Code provisions
* Pre‑trial confirmation standard – Rome Statute “substantial grounds to believe” standard; reliance on documentary/summary evidence
* Evidence – use of charge and caution statements, eyewitness evidence, post‑mortem/forensic exhibits, call data analysis and identification parades at confirmation stage
* Liability – planning, surveillance, common intention and principal liability under Penal Code (Sections 19 and 20)
* Admissibility – voluntariness and detention‑related challenges deferred to trial; prior human‑rights remedies noted
* Trial in absence – procedure where accused absconds (A8)
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16 April 2024 |
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16 April 2024 |
| March 2024 |
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Application for return of seized exhibits dismissed as premature because items remain prosecution exhibits in an ongoing case.
Crime and procedure – Management and disposal of exhibits – Effect of nolle prosequi on co-accused proceedings – Article 26 (property rights) not engaged where items seized as prosecution exhibits – Practice Directions (Management of Exhibits) govern retention and disposal of vehicles and other exhibits.
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18 March 2024 |
Terrorism—aggravated robbery—murder—attempted murder—terrorist financing—rendering support to terrorist organization—belonging to terrorist organization—ADF activities—charge confirmation—ballistic evidence—circumstantial evidence—confessions—jurisdiction of International Crimes Division—CCTV footage—doctrine of common intention.
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18 March 2024 |
| February 2024 |
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27 February 2024 |
| December 2023 |
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18 December 2023 |
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Whether customary international law permits prosecution and whether a prima facie case exists against the accused.
* International humanitarian law – non‑international armed conflict threshold – intensity, duration, organisation of non‑state armed group;* Crimes against humanity – applicability as customary international law/jus cogens and non‑retroactivity (principle of legality);* No‑case‑to‑answer standard – prima facie evidence required to call accused to defence;* Specific evidential elements – hostage‑taking (intent to obtain advantage), murder, kidnapping, procuration of unlawful carnal knowledge;* Procedural issues – duplicative counts and acquittal where essential elements lacking.
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18 December 2023 |
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Bail refused due to grave trafficking/defilement charges, risk of absconding and likely witness intimidation.
Criminal procedure – Bail – Discretion under Article 23(6)(a) and Sections 14–15 Trial on Indictments Act; exceptional circumstances; substantial sureties; gravity of offence (aggravated trafficking in children — death penalty); risk of absconding and witness intimidation; multiple indictments; readiness for trial.
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8 December 2023 |
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Technical errors in an indictment do not nullify charges; evidence sufficiently established aggravated child trafficking and charges were confirmed.
Criminal procedure – Confirmation of charges – "Substantial grounds to believe" standard; Trafficking in persons – Aggravated trafficking of a child – elements: receipt/harbouring, child status, deception/abuse of vulnerability, sexual exploitation; Indictment irregularity – drafting error not fatal where no prejudice.
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8 December 2023 |
| November 2023 |
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Court confirmed charges, finding substantial grounds to believe accused committed aggravated child trafficking and aggravated defilement.
* Confirmation of charges – pre‑trial standard – substantial grounds to believe (Rome Statute/ICC standard) applied by ICD.
* Trafficking in persons – aggravated trafficking in children – elements: act, means, purpose, participation, aggravating factor of child; Section 3(3) obviates proving means where victim is a child.
* Aggravated defilement – proof of sexual act and age – medical and testimonial evidence acceptable to establish victim's age.
* Consent irrelevant where victim is a child under PTIPA.
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20 November 2023 |
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Court applied the ICC 'substantial grounds' standard and confirmed child trafficking and aggravated defilement charges against the accused.
Confirmation of charges – pre-trial standard: substantial grounds to believe (Rome Statute Art.61(7)) applied; Aggravated trafficking in children (PTIPA s.3/5) – receipt/harbouring of a child for sexual exploitation; Section 3(3) PTIPA: child-victim exception to proving means; Aggravated defilement (Penal Code) – sexual act on child under 14; Victim’s testimony and medical report (old ruptured hymen) sufficient at confirmation; Minor inconsistencies do not preclude confirmation.
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9 November 2023 |
| September 2023 |
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Court dismissed application to stay trial, finding the constitutional challenge lacked likelihood of success and restricted disclosure orders were lawful.
* Constitutional law – Stay of proceedings – Criteria for grant: likelihood of success, irreparable harm, balance of convenience.
* Criminal procedure – Pre-trial disclosure – Prima facie right to disclosure limited where State adduces evidence of need for witness protection, state secrets or informer identity protection; trial court’s discretion.
* International Crimes Division Rules – Redaction and restricted disclosure permissible where they align with Constitutional Court guidance.
* Duplication of proceedings – Concurrent trials on same facts may violate Article 28, but questions of consolidation/joinder are case-specific and previously determined rulings are binding.
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25 September 2023 |
| July 2023 |
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An accused who deliberately absconds after bail waives the right to be present and trial may proceed in his absence.
Criminal procedure – trial in absence – accused who absconds waives right to be present – Article 28(5) Constitution, Judicature Act and ICD Rules – public interest and fairness to victims and co-accused justify proceeding.
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18 July 2023 |
| May 2023 |
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Court confirmed trafficking, terrorism and support charges but dismissed terrorist-financing counts for lack of evidence.
International Crimes Division jurisdiction; pre-trial confirmation standard – ‘substantial grounds to believe’ (Rome Statute); aggravated trafficking in children; terrorism – unlawful possession of explosive-making materials; belonging to a terrorist organisation; rendering support to terrorists; terrorist financing dismissed for lack of proof of willing provision.
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17 May 2023 |
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Pre‑trial court confirmed terrorism charges on substantial grounds based on admissions, witness statements and call data records.
Terrorism — Confirmation of charges — Pre‑trial standard: "substantial grounds to believe" (Rome Statute) — reliance on admissions, witness statements and call data records — International Crimes Division jurisdiction — admissibility/authenticity challenges premature at confirmation stage.
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2 May 2023 |
| April 2023 |
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Pre-trial confirmation applied the Rome Statute 'substantial grounds' test, confirming trafficking counts against some accused and dismissing others.
Criminal procedure – International Crimes Division – pre-trial confirmation – Article 61 Rome Statute standard of "substantial grounds to believe" applied; Trafficking in persons – aggravated trafficking in children – elements (recruitment/transport, child status, means, purpose of exploitation); Joint indictment – need for evidence of individual responsibility; Evidential limits of summary/documentary proof at confirmation stage; Dismissal/striking out of counts unsupported by summary or repetitive counts.
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17 April 2023 |
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Insufficient, inconsistent evidence and investigative gaps meant no prima facie case; accused acquitted on all counts.
Criminal procedure — s.73 Trial on Indictments Act — prima facie case; Trafficking in persons — elements: recruitment/coercion, exploitation, parental control; Forgery — falsity of document’s nature versus content; Uttering false documents — need to prove accused knowingly used forged documents; Evidence — material inconsistencies, lack of corroboration, inadequate investigation.
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13 April 2023 |
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A proved amnesty for crimes committed in furtherance of war extinguishes criminal charges; indictment struck out.
Amnesty – effect of pardon on prosecutions – Amnesty Act scope for crimes committed in furtherance of war or rebellion; Constitutional bar (Article 29(10)) to trying a pardoned person; pre‑trial confirmation standard under Article 61(5) Rome Statute; aggravated trafficking in children and membership of a terrorist organisation considered within amnesty where committed in furtherance of rebellion.
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13 April 2023 |
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Whether prosecution’s pre‑trial disclosure established substantial grounds that the accused committed terrorism and trafficking offences.
International Crimes Division — Pre‑trial confirmation — substantial grounds standard; Terrorism offences — belonging to listed terrorist organisation; rendering support; terrorist financing (Section 9A) — intent/knowledge; Trafficking in persons — aggravated trafficking, trafficking in children — act, means (deception), purpose (exploitation); Conspiracy to commit trafficking.
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4 April 2023 |
| March 2023 |
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Bail refused: applicant’s residences established but sureties found insubstantial, creating high absconding risk.
* Criminal procedure – Bail – Application for bail pending trial on terrorism and murder charges – Requirement to prove exceptional circumstances for specified offences under section 15 TIA – Primary inquiry whether accused is likely to abscond. * Fixed place of abode – evidence from ID, charge sheet and LC1 letters can establish residence. * Sureties – substantiality assessed by relationship, residence, documentary proof and ability to ensure attendance; contradictory or weak sureties may justify refusal of bail. * Consideration of gravity of offence and risk of interference with witnesses under Bail Guidelines and Article 23(6)(a).
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28 March 2023 |
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Pre‑trial confirmation: substantial grounds found to believe accused committed aggravated trafficking of a child; charge confirmed and sent for trial.
Criminal procedure – International Crimes Division pre‑trial confirmation – appropriate standard: "substantial grounds to believe" (Rome Statute Article 61) – aggravated trafficking in children (PTP Act 2009) – elements: victim's age, recruitment/harbouring, means/vulnerability, sexual exploitation and accused's participation – child victim: means/consent irrelevant.
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20 March 2023 |